Five Reasons Michael Jordan Is the Greatest Basketball Player Ever

Contributor Written on June 08, 2009

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DETROIT - APRIL 06: Michael Jordan is announced as a member of the 2009 Hall-of-Fame class at halftime of the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game at Ford Fie

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born Feb. 17, 1963) is a retired American professional basketball player and active businessman. His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."

Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.

After a stand out career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he led the Tar Heels to a National Championship in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as one of the stars of the league, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring.

His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line at Slam Dunk Contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness." He also gained a reputation as one of the best defensive players in basketball.

In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat."

Though Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 season.

Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but he returned for two more NBA seasons in 2001 as a member of the Washington Wizards.

Amazing Jumping Ability

Honestly, after seeing this picture, there is no doubt in my mind that any one could ever jump as far other than LeBron James and Julius Erving.

Great Defender

Jordan was a relentless defender—he averaged over 2.3 steals a game in his entire career. He didn't care who you were, 7'5" or 5'9", he would give everything he had to stop you.

Good Jump Shot

Jordan averaged over 30 points a game in his illustrious career and over 30,000 career points. Defenders were scared to match up against him because he could do anything you could possibly imagine.

Clutch Player

Jordan was and will always be one of the greatest clutch players of all time. Who will ever forget "The Shot" against the Utah Jazz in the NBA championship game (that was also the last shot Jordan took ever until he came back out of retirement of course).

Team Leader

Jordan was also a team leader, when one player did bad he went over to talk to him instead of complaining about and did something about it. This is why not only me, but a lot of other people think Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever.

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written on June 08, 2009 Opinion

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